With Deshaun Watson sidelined for the remainder of the season with an Achilles injury, the 2-7 Cleveland Browns are in hope-for-the-best mode to close out 2024.
As public speculation continues as to whether Cleveland will move forward with Watson under center next season, Browns general manager Andrew Berry sidestepped a question on Wednesday about whether trading for the former three-time Pro Bowl quarterback was a good move.
"I’m really not in reflection mode ... we’ll get to those maybe longer term or big picture reflections at a later point in time," Berry told reporters.
In The Athletic's NFL midseason predictions article published on Thursday, Browns beat writer Zac Jackson forecasted a major shakeup coming to the franchise's front office this offseason, give the overall Watson outlook.
Specifically, that the team will "move on" from either one or both of Berry or chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta.
"Considering the failures of the Deshaun Watson trade, the offensive line carousel in 2024, the contract uncertainty across the offense going forward and the number of draft misses, I just can’t imagine team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam viewing this massive failure as acceptable," Jackson wrote.
"A lot can happen in the next two months, but if the most expensive roster in NFL history produces three or four wins, it’s hard to see the Haslams allowing this front-office group to make crucial decisions going forward."
DePodesta has been with the organization since January 2016. The former 20-year MLB executive led the search to hire Berry, as well as head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Watson's five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract runs through the end of the 2026 season. But his subpar play, paired with the financial commitment, has put the Browns in a chokehold.
Berry and company have converted over $44 million of Watson's base salary into signing bonuses in each of the past two seasons, giving the team some short-term cap flexibility. But that pill gets harder to swallow if the on-field product doesn't remotely match expectations.
According to Spotrac, trading Watson next offseason would result in a $80.7 million dead cap hit, and the Browns would see no cap savings unless a deal transpired after June 1.
